A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip is set to take effect on Sunday, according to Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who confirmed the deal in Doha, where the negotiations took place. The exact timing still needs to be determined.
US President Joe Biden, whose administration had mediated the talks, also confirmed the agreement. “This agreement will stop the fighting in the Gaza Strip, stockpile the desperately needed humanitarian aid for the Palestinian civilian population, and reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity” he said.
According to reports, the deal includes the release of 33 hostages by Hamas, who were kidnapped from Israel on October 7, 2023. In return, Israel is expected to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The IDF troops are also set to withdraw from the Gaza Strip in a phased manner. The release of the remaining hostages will be negotiated later, with the number of those still alive unclear.
The negotiations between Hamas and Israel over a ceasefire took place under US mediation in Qatar, with a possible agreement hinted at in recent days.